As we approach the holidays, I want to let you know how thankful we are for each of you. It is an honor to be able to send out weekly devotions, to preach and sing in your churches, to worship together, etc. It has also been an honor to serve beside some of you in ministry.
As with any newsletter I will give you a recap of where we have been; an update of where we are planning to go; and a statement of where we are at. [I will also add in a family update at the end to serve as our Christmas cards.]
The last few months have been very busy on the ministry front. We have had great opportunities to share the Gospel and to see people respond. We have had great opportunities to disciple believers via our ROCK’em Road Trip and our outreach into churches and youth groups. I was recently in St. Louis to speak at an AWANA convention and even got to spend the weekend with my wife. (We dropped the kids off at Grandma and Grandpa’s on the way!) The month of October alone saw me with over 15 opportunities in outreach (all of this with Coach Torzewski actively working in Indianapolis as well!)
I recently met with staff and board members to discuss 2009. The opportunities are exploding. As it stands I will be returning to the Dominican Republic in the Spring with students from Statesville Christian School. I also have a trip planned to Alaska for some outreach to churches and it has been requested that we return to the Czech Republic. (We are turning down requests often for missions outreach simply due to lack of time, helpers and finances.) Also in 2009 we will embark on at least 3 of our ROCK’em Road Trips where we take players on the road for intense basketball and life discipleship. These trips are a great time of learning and encouragement. Then there are the 16 Blacktop Bible Clubs we have on the agenda for the NC and IN regions; Coach T will be returning to Cornerstone Festival to conduct the basketball outreach; etc. It is shaping up to be a busy year.
Now to the statement of where we are presently. As mentioned before, the ministry opportunities are abounding. What is not abounding is our bank account. As it stands we barely have enough to pay November’s basic bills. Therefore December and 2009 need a boost. I have often seen God do big things at times like this and have no reason to doubt He will again. Yet I also have to be open to the fact that we don’t always have plans turn out the way we envisioned. If this financial miracle does not take place we will be unable to follow through with all the opportunities that 2009 holds. I ask you to consider sacrificially giving to our ministry at this time. I can guarantee you that it will result in a clear Gospel message being taken all over the world! I can guarantee you that it will result in God’s Playbook being magnified in people’s lives!
As for Team Burden: We are doing well. The kids are growing up way too fast. Lisa and I just celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary and our oldest turned 13 this past summer. Yes life will be different with a teenager in the house. All of these years of ministering to teens and their parents; now I am the one in need of help! It will be a typical, busy holiday season for us. Three of our kids have birthdays between now and the end of the year. Plus there happens to be that birthday we celebrate of our incredible Savior. Our family wishes you joy this year that can only be found through the promised Savior of Luke chapter 2. He came to provide our way of peace with the Father. No matter how the world around us seems to be crumbling, we can stand on that promise of the good news!
Merry Christmas!
Team Burden
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